It’s a question that has caused quite a heated debate amongst social media experts: when is the best time to post on Instagram?
Well, the truth is, it depends on your business, target audience, location, and the type of content you’re about to share. But once you’ve got to grips with the finer details, you can expect a whole world of difference when it comes to engagement and organic visibility.
To help you schedule Instagram posts at the most critical time of the day, or night; let’s talk social media strategy and amplifying your efforts with JoggAI.
Understanding Instagram’s Algorithm
Think of the Instagram algorithm as the playbook for social media success. Knowing the rules of the game will help you navigate the social media world and help you achieve your goals faster than ever before.
Golden Rule: Instagram loves content that generates rapid engagement.
What does this mean? Posts that are liked, favorited, commented on, and shared will be given a secret boost from the algorithm, helping more people to find and see your content.
That’s why the best time to post on Instagram for likes should be your main concern when putting together any social media plan.
Research on the Best Times to Post
Now let’s crunch numbers, so to speak. Have you ever experimented with posting at different times and noticed a change in engagement levels?
Studies, including insights from Shopify, indicate that the best times to post on Instagram can vary significantly based on factors like the day of the week and your audience’s specific habits. But what consistent patterns emerge from the data?
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Midweek posts: Engagement rates often peak on Wednesdays, also known online as ‘hump-day’ and Thursdays.
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Early mornings and lunch hours: There’s potential in scheduling your IG posts between 5AM and 7AM, and around 11AM to 1PM. Many users check their feeds upon waking and during lunch breaks, making these prime times for engagement. So if you’re a fitness brand, gym or you want to target new moms, this might be an ideal opportunity to reach your unique target audience online.
Test this out for a week or two, and adjust your strategy accordingly. It’s a bit of a trial and error process but when you find what works for you, it’s a rinse and repeat for maximun social media exposure.
Check Your Industry’s Prime Posting Time
The industry you’re in can have a major impact on when you should post on Instagram.
For instance:
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Tech companies: Might find more engagement around 2 PM, as detailed by Hootsuite, when people are looking for a break from work.
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Educational content: Often gains traction around 4 PM, possibly when students are off school or when people engage in personal development after work.
Geographical Considerations
Managing a global audience means considering multiple time zones. How do you ensure your posts reach the maximum number of eyes? Another thing to consider when trying to figure out the best time of post on Instagram is where you’re based, and where your target audience is.
For instance, if your market is in the UK, avoid Sunday evenings and Monday mornings when engagement typically dips. Conversely, in the UAE, their average work week starts on Sunday and ends early Friday morning due to religion.
When not to post on Instagram?
We’ve been talking about the best time to post on Instagram, but what about when not to?
As a general rule of thumb, avoid the temptation to post during late-night hours or very early mornings when your audience is likely asleep. Unless you are targeting people who are struggling to sleep. For instance, you’re promoting a health and wellbeing app, or you sell natural sleep aids. In this case, late night would be perfect.
Always track and check your data and analytics as a business and steer clear of times when your previous analytics have shown lower engagement rates, such as late evenings or specific non-peak days.
Schedule IG Posts - Top Tools
Posting to your Instagram grid and sharing a story or reel organically can be quite time-consuming. To speed up this process and save yourself precious time, you should be using technology to your advantage. Schedule IG posts using tools such as Buffer, Planabl, or Hoostuite.
The Power of Instagram Video Ads and Content Priority
While strategic timing is crucial, the quality of your content is paramount. If you’re not getting the views, likes, and comments you had anticipated, then it might be worth launching an Instagram paid ad campaign.
Instagram ads serve as a robust platform to effectively reach targeted demographics. The success of these ads hinges on delivering high-quality, relevant content that resonates with viewers. Engaging video ads, in particular, can significantly impact your brand’s presence, driving both reach and engagement.
Videos For Social Success
Want to elevate your Instagram ad content? JoggAI’s latest resources on creating compelling videos for social media and mastering video ad campaigns are invaluable.
These types of tools and tips can really help you to craft content that not only looks great but is strategically poised to capture attention at the right times.
Get Experimental
A/B testing is a must. You’re not going to get your social strategy right from day one, so don’t worry about testing out new ideas and strategies first. This method can yield surprising insights into when your audience is most receptive.
Engagement Tips Beyond Timing
Beyond optimal timing, consider other social strategies to enhance engagement. Interactive content like polls, open questions, and calls to action can significantly increase user interaction and contribute to a more dynamic and engaged community. Make your page somewhere people want to visit and use community-building to your advantage.
Optimize Your Instagram Strategy With JoggAI
The best time to post on Instagram will take time to figure out, but it’s not the only factor influencing engagement online. Quality and variation of content can take your Instagram strategy to the next level. JoggAI helps brands and businesses generate incredible video clips using AI Avatars. Long gone are the days of asking your team to record videos of themselves to build trust and transparency online. Now, you can create engaging Instagram stories, reels, and video clips with the power of AI and JoggAI’s platform.
